Greetings,

Is there anything special about plugging a leak in an ATV tire or can any gas station do it just like a car tire?

 

I have had graet luck with an automobile plug kit I got from walmart.
It's just like the ones the gas station uses and it comes with tar type plugs, cost about five bucks

 

Dont have a gas station do it. do like gaff does run out and get a kit for less and you be able to plug a tire whenever you want.

 

Yes, the "tar-type" plugs work very well.....very sticky. Get the kit that has the tool for opening the hole up for the plug to fit correct.....this item has a handle that you can push with. One reminder for inserting this tool.....the hole in the tire almost always goes at an angle....so move the point around for the path of least resistance and you will effectively be plugging the path of the hole. Now apply the glue to the plug and push the plug into the hole leaving maybe an inch exposed. Now cut of the exposed plug (I prefer to leave about a 1/4 inch visible so the plug does'nt fall into the tire when I hit a rock or something). Kit should cost around 5 bucks.

 

Once you plug the tire out on the trail, just how do you folks get air back into the tire? I carry a plug kit that I have not had to use on the trail yet. And to reinflate the tire I carry a bicycle tire hand pump like you would carry on the frame of your mountain bike. I have never really tried it out to see how long it would pump an atv tire to 4-7 psi. So what do you guys use to re-air the tires on the trail?

 

Greetings,

While I've never re-aired on the trail, I have plenty of experience bringing a tire back from total flat. My machines sit for 3 weeks at a time and, if I have a leak, its real flat when I get to it. I have decent quality bike pump and I can revive the tire in less than five minutes. It doesn't take long to reach 3 or 4 psi.

I remember a thread running in here a while back about wiring an electric air pump to your ATV so you could pump on the trail. It may have started in an effort to reset the bead on the tire. But I never saw the utility in it -- a bike pump will do the job (but don't buy a really cheap one, the hose will fail in no time).

 

Oh yeah, one more thing -- how do you locate the hole? Do you put the tire in a tub of water, rub soapy water over it, or other? I'd like to do the whole job without removing the wheel.

 

The way I found the leak in mine was after I cleaned the quad I carefully examined the tire. I found the thorne still in the tire. Verfired it was the leak by squirting it with windex. When it bubbled I removed the thorne and installed a plug.
You dont usually have to dunk the whole tire. just clean it and look for punctures. spray them with glass cleaner or soapy water and check for bubbles[img]i/expressions/face-icon-small-wink.gif[/img]

 

the only thing i ever used i cant remeber what the name is but it should say that it is off road tire or regular car plugs just what ever i have lying around

 

Greetings,

Happened to be walking past Sears at the mall and so I popped in to their auto center and asked about a tire plug kit. The guy looked down at me with great gravity and in a serious voice said "we don't believe in that here." My kid said, "gee, everyone has to believe in something, but that's ridiculous." I agree. I believe I'll have another beer.

PS. I was in a tiny gas station/store in Scotland PA and there on the shelf was a full kit -- plugs, tools, everything -- for about $3. I guess they are believers.